Game of Thrones' blood drive contest called out for excluding gay and bisexual men

The Daily Beast

A promotional partnership with the American Red Cross will give those who donate their blood a limited-edition Game of Thrones blood-spattered T-shirt and a chance to win a trip to the finale series premiere in New York City. "The catch: gay and bisexual men can’t compete," reports Joseph Longo. "The FDA mandates men abstain from sex with other men for 12 months before donating blood. The same withdrawal period goes for women sleeping with sexually active bisexual men. By partnering with the Red Cross on what’s marketed as their largest ever blood donation promotional effort by an entertainment company, HBO’s contest on paper effectively discriminates against gay men."